I am a retired engineer who has always had a passion for woodworking.
In 2013 I bought my first lathe and joined Kennet Valley Wood Turning club.
With some assistance I gradually progressed as a woodturner, completing various projects for friends and then for sale.
I have demonstrated and displayed my work with the club and on my own at regional shows in Berkshire, Hampshire and West Sussex, including the Royal Berkshire Show.
In 2020 I exhibited at the One Ash Project exhibition in Andover where the whole of an Ash tree that required felling, was repurposed by local craftspeople in order to help teach children about the wonder of trees.
In 2023 I bought some second-hand picture framing equipment after attending two courses with All About Framing. I have since been framing for family and friends as well as some paid commissions.
In 2024 I framed six canvasses for the Elements of Nature art exhibition at The Winning Gallery.
I use my framing workshop as a small gallery to highlight framing styles and also show work from my sister-in-law.
My woodturning and general woodworking style would be classed as rustic, with the wood itself at the heart of my art. I tend to use wood with flaws and emphasise their natural character. I rarely use colour, unless the wood itself has virtually no character.
My framing style tends to be contemporary and I am definitely still learning my art here but I have worked with pre-painted and bare wood frames for both flat art and canvasses.